Christopher Nolan’s next massive, sweeping epic, the World War II drama Dunkirk, might bring on One Direction pop star Harry Styles in a supporting role, according to a report at Deadline.
One Direction’s Harry Styles. In a Christopher Nolan epic.
Dunkirk revolves around the evacuation of the French harbor during WWII – under the code name Operation Dynamo – which took place in May and June, 1940. Tom Hardy is on board, as is recent Oscar winner Mark Rylance; Kenneth Branagh is the third major star of a large ensemble which will be filled out by relative unknowns.
And Harry Styles, apparently.
Styles is not confirmed, but has been offered a role. There is certainly a reason behind casting the One Direction front man. Dunkirk is going to be an extremely expensive endeavor for Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros., and is set up for a very meaty July 21, 2017 release date. But it will most certainly be an historical epic with (somewhat of) a niche audience of Nolan fans and WWII aficionados. Having Harry Styles in the marketing campaign could stretch the demographic target and bring in an audience – of tween girls? – who would normally never see the film. It’s weird, but in it’s own weird way it makes sense.
Hopefully, Styles can act. There’s no reason to believe he can’t, as plenty of pop stars have transitioned from music to movies. Justin Timberlake is probably the best example. Nevertheless, it’s a pretty strange reach for Nolan and Co.
